How Christmas baking is GOOD for your body!

That's right friends, all that sugar can be good for your body. Many of you have these ingredients at home in ample amounts right now. Do yourself a solid and get mixing. Here is my latest recipe:

SEXY WINTER MIX
In a small bowl mix together
1/2 C. white sugar
1tbs. oats
1tbs. olive oil
1tsp. vanilla
1tsp. cinnamon*

First, let your family know you are unavailable for for 10 to 15 minutes while you hop in the shower. Rub your mix all over your dull flaky skin with a wash cloth. Enjoy the delicious aroma. Taste it if you want to (you know I did). Emerge smelling and feeling like a sexy winter wonder. For a fresh variation, use peppermint extract instead of vanilla.

*A little tip for those with tender skin: cinnamon tends to encourage blood flow and may not feel so good for you. Just leave it out.

I made up this little mix yesterday. I even used it on my face. What a difference it made on my skin!!! Soft and smooth.

UPDATE ON DECEMBER GOALS
My goals being met! I feel awesome about it. A healthy stress-free planned dinner every night with vegetables even! A little exercise is happening three times a week. My big board of organization is doing its job of keeping everything on track. The only wrinkle with the board was me writing the to-do list for the weekend thinking that my Mr. and I would both be working on the jobs listed. He had his own unwritten goals. Anyways, my list was too ambitious for one person and  it only got half done. Now I know that everyone must work together making the list and everyone's objectives must be included.
For those of you wondering, yes, my husband thinks I'm nuts and, yes, he tolerates it because he gets a really good dinner every night and I put his laundry away for him last week. TAH DAH! I am currently working on January's goals to improve my life at home. I suspect it will involve some major purging of junk and an increase in the exercise.

Me vs. The Mess

A part of my sanity objective is to live in an uncluttered environment.
Today I waged war against some of "the mess". I feel that I have won a couple of solid battles today but the mess is strong and has many supporters.
I figured out the secret to winning. I had to get off my butt and do the cleaning/sorting jobs that I don't like doing. Sucky truth. We must also except the reality that this war will never ever be over. It is a series of battles throughout which we must remain strong and determined. Are you with me?


I am making this short post to celebrate my victories.

• Laundry has been put away. This includes the clothes that aren't mine and that I refused to touch. In the name of all that is tidy, I caved and did it. Those clothes and the dresser they belong to have been sorted, folded and organized. 
• The freezer. (shudder) There was some stuff in there that may have been frozen for three years and has no business being eaten. They have been eliminated, the survivors have been organized. One shelf for veggies and fruit, one for meat and one for starch. Done.
• The kids' books. They are now on in cubbies sorted by age appropriateness and stories vs. activity books. 
• Toys are put away. That will last all of 5 minutes but for now I will enjoy the win. 
• The pony beads that were crafted into tree decorations and then promptly un-crafted by the boys and spread all over the floors to wage an assault on my feet and knees have been sought out and defeated. 

I WIN THE DAY!!!! 

* As a reality disclaimer, I should confess that the front hall has coats and backpacks all over the floor, every surface of the house has a little layer of festive dust and the kitchen... ewww.  

Hi ho hi ho it's back to work I go. 

I don’t stress Christmas anymore

Yup, I’m gonna go there. I am going to write about all of the things that I would normally shy away from saying out loud for fear that my opinions may be unpopular. The reason I am putting myself out there is because I LOVE Christmas. It used to stress me out. I would actually really truly cry every year because Christmas stressed me out. Not anymore my friends, not anymore. If I can help just one stressed out person enjoy the holidays, I am willing to take the heat.  I feel this time of year is about love, joy, peace and hope. Not, money, stuff or politics.


GIFTS! 
Yes, I love gifts. The giving, the getting, all of it. What I don’t love is feeling obligated to buy something for someone because I think that they will buy me something and the something I buy must be of equal or greater value or else I come off looking cheap and un-thoughtful. So, I walk the malls in a sweat trying to find something that they will love, do not already own and will not be tempted to re-gift, bury in a cupboard or toss in the trash. How do I know they feel this way? Because I feel that way. I love that you thought of me but please…, I have 10 pairs of fuzzy socks, and enough specialized single purpose kitchen gadgets that take up more space than I have. I am sooooo sorry!!! I am sweating and feeling anxiety in my chest and gut as I write this. I fear your scorn! If you want to show you care, tell me Merry Christmas, smile and give me a hug. That means more to me than anything that you could find at the store. I am not just saying that to be polite. The accumulation of ‘stuff’ stresses me.  In cases where gift giving is required, I vote for consumables. Home made preserves, a bottle of wine to share.  A trip to the movies or a dinner out together to enjoy the company of the people I love. Requirement is now limited to family members.


My solution: This has been gently worked out over the years. I feel good about it because everyone is on board.  My friends have children, we used to exchange gifts but have now agreed that Christmas is for the kids; their aunts, uncles and grandparents provide plenty of stuff. 
One side of the family, we draw names when we are together at Thanksgiving. You buy one gift, spending a max of $35. We are all adults and don’t need or want a bunch of stuff that someone acquired by means of sweating through the mall. This way we get more time to put real thought into it. The price limit also makes us think about what we are buying. Not just a pile of fuzzy socks and a foot soaker/massager. Sorry if you like the foot soaker. I hear people use it a few times, really enjoy it, and then store it away in the back of the closet.  
The other side of the family, we have a limit of $10. Yup, a lousy ten bucks. This is hilarious!!!! The creativity and thought required to show your love for ten bucks should not be underestimated. I can’t share what I have put together this year but I promise you, it’s awesome!


POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!
If someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings I feel good. I say thank you. I will return the sentiment. Of course you can say Merry Christmas! I say Merry Christmas. It is my holiday greeting of choice. I will not feel bad about saying it nor should those who say Happy Holidays feel bad.  Seriously! 

Wow. I sure hope my house doesn’t get egged now. 


THE MONEY!
There is too much focus on the money and the stuff. I will be blunt here. I am not going to spend hundreds of dollars on people who already have everything they could possibly need and much of what they want. I will donate money and gifts to the Food Cupboard and Toy Mountain. That makes me feel better. I say better, not great because I do actually cry every year because I am in a warm house surrounded by food, family and laughter while I know darn well that somewhere close by, someone is cold, hungry and alone. 


~Christmas can be hard. Please, make it about love, peace, hope and joy. Not money, stuff and politics. Find a heartfelt way to show you care and do it in a big merry way. It feels good and does not include sweating, anxiety or stress. 

Merry Christmas! 
Please don’t throw a snowball in my face!

This post is NOT about nipples.

On a whim, I changed my status to “I have a blog post brewing in my mind. I will include the word 'nipple' once for every like this status gets. ;)” 
It turns out that I have eleven friends on Facebook who are interested in nipples. Some of you I expected to “like”, some were a surprise.


My idea came late at night while feeding the baby. My lips were a little dry so naturally I reached over for the nipple cream. Lanolin. Its good stuff and I have found many uses for it. Obviously it has saved many ladies nipples from the destructive forces of their hungry infants. It says right on the tube, relieves and heals dry, cracked and sore nipples. Why not my dry cracked lips? It gives a nice subtle shine too. A nurse once told me to rub Vaseline inside my nostrils to prevent winter nosebleeds… nipple cream works wonders and lasts longer. It saved my poor raw nose during a cold last week. My cuticles are looking beautiful thanks to nipple cream. I also applied it to dry rough heels before bed and saw nice results. (I still have not gone for my pedicure).  Nipple cream can also be used to spot-treat your dry winter-cracked hands. 
There you go. I have seven uses for nipple cream and used the word nipple eleven times. 


Update on my December goals
There were three goals that I was working towards this month. So far things are looking good. 


Dinner - It has been planned in advance and delivered to the table on time seven nights in a row. All meals have included vegetables. I am very proud of myself. The Sandi Richard cook books are a great resource. I feel a need to make small changes to her recipes. That may just be my rebellious side not wanting to conform. She has made meal planning very easy. I cut seven book marks out of the kids’ craft paper and gave them to Mr. (my husband). His job was to place all seven in the book and I took care of the rest. It worked out great. 


Excersise - I have earned myself a sticker every second day. I am starting slow. A few pushups, leg lifts, squats and crunches while watching tv. Kids are used in place of free weights. The girl for my arms, the boys for the legs. 


The organizational board - Great so far. There is room for to-do lists, dinner menu, calendar and much more. The location is central. Whiteboard markers and magnets are in good supply. The board gets used every day, throughout the day. The only challenge so far has been the 2.5 year old middle child. He thinks it’s a neat art station. He rubbed out my menu last night and practiced writing his name. This morning he started getting the right idea. He still took off some of my magnets but it was just to show Mr. that they are “mommy’s magnets”.  Yes, thank you. Now, put them back and stop touching my stuff!

Back On The Horse

The number one lesson I have learned so far with trying to get organized, or really getting anything done at all, is to make a list. Here in a nice, impossible to ignore list are my goals for December. That is 3 experiments in one month. Lesson number two that I have learned is to set reasonable and small goals.

• Learn to make a well balanced dinner by planning in advance.

• Exercise at least three times a week.

• Test run my NEW AND IMPROVED organizational board because maybe this one will work better than the first version. Really, if it works at all, it’s better than the first version.

The method…

Dinner. I am investigating some books by Sandi Richard. She has this great system in her cook books where recipes are sorted into one week sections and colour coded by the time it takes to prepare them. Love it! Right up my alley with the colour coding.

(break while baby screams) Step into my life by inserting about 10 minutes of WAHHHHHHHWAHHHHHHWAHHHHHH befor you read any further. If you want to be authentic, humm and sway/bounce.

Ok, back at the keyboard, baby in arm… one handed typing. Where was I?

I do find that she uses some ingredients that I am not a fan of or, that could be a little healthier but, I am a fan of the format.

Exercise. Three times a week. I will put a sticker on my mini calendar each day that I do some exercise. The plan here is based on shame and encouragement. I will be shamed by a lack of stickers or encouraged to see lots of them. Pretty simple. I’m not expecting to shed all kinds of poundage right away. I just want to tighten up the jiggly bits that shouldn’t be so jiggly.

My new board includes spaces for my big calendar, mini excersise calendar, 

Insert 5 minutes of WAHHHHHHHWAHHHHHHWAHHHHHH before you read any further.

the week’s dinner menu (once I figure it out), list of big jobs to get done and a list of things to get done today.

Wish me luck! 

So, I went and had another baby.... but I'm back now.

Hello everyone! It’s nice to be back after a teensy tiny break from writing. A month ago, I had my third baby, an adorable little girl. Her parents and two brothers are totally in love with her.

Reading my past experiments I can see that there are some failures, some epic failures and thankfully for my ego, some successes. Here is a quick look at how I did over the last ten months sans-blog.

FAILURES:

Planning the day, planning meals, planning a schedule of any sort… EPIC FAIL!

1. I am still wondering at 5:30 pm what we are going to eat and then having to resort to a ‘Plan B’ once I see that everything is frozen.  

2. I do not have any productive activities planned for the boys once they get home from school.

3. Fitness??? BAWHAWHAWHAW!!! I had a baby a month ago. There are no muscles or toned parts anywhere on this body. I have looked for them, they do not exist. The only thing that does not jiggle is my toes. They do, however, really need a pedicure.

4. Healthy eating. See failure #1 and #3. Ya, nuff said.

SUCCESSES:

Learning to prioritize. I had made a list a while back of things that are important to me. Being pregnant (meaning large, uncomfortable and exhausted) forced me to slow down and give energy to only what REALLY needed to get done.

1. My family and I came up with some fun and creative activities to make the summer special.

2. I have been volunteering with both boys’ schools. Being involved shows them that they are important to me and I like being a part of a group working towards something important. Double points for this achievement.

3. I make time for fun. There is not a lot of free time when you have two kids, there is less when there are three. I have learned to be selfish and to let my husband take the reigns at home so that I can bugger off and have a good time with friends. I feel good because I can recharge and let loose. He feels good because he gets to be valuable and highly appreciated. The kids and man then get a happy and more energetic version of me. Win-win-win.

I just got so distracted remembering the fun weekend away I had this summer that I missed my mouth and poured my hot chocolate down the front of my sweater. Zero points for coordination, ten points for being able to laugh at myself.

I have a couple of experiments starting to form in my head. The magnetic board of magical organization is going to get a more realistic facelift, I will learn how to make a good dinner at least five nights a week and I will most certainly fix this jiggley body by spring so that I can play soccer again. Who am I kidding? I really just want to look like a hot mom….and play soccer. I loved playing soccer.

Beauty AND Brains!!! Artful multitasking.

While there is still clutter to tackle and that fancy day planning board to finish constructing, I am pleased to say that my multitasking abilities are still in fine shape. Two of my current objectives involve earning a BA in HR and looking pretty. Don’t judge, I am just being honest.

Here’s how this afternoon went. Kid one; successfully dropped off at nursery school, kid two; napping, Me; studying for a final exam AND pulling of the home spa experience at the same time, thank you very much. Here is how I did it all in 75 minutes…

1)     Run hot bath with invigorating lime aromatherapy bubbles and tea tree oil skin softening treatment.

2)     Make a giant hot chocolate and gather study notes.

3)     Take notes and yummy beverage to the tub.

4)     Gain energy through aromatherapy, ease sore muscles and treat dry skin by sitting still in the bath while reading notes.

5)     Achieve effective studying because there are no distractions in my soapy sanctuary.

6)     Personal reward each unit of study reviewed with a few sips of hot chocolate. Very motivating.

7)     Allow steam from tub and heat from beverage to invoke the opening of facial pores while water softens skin on neglected feet.

8)     Upon completion of study session, use fancy peppermint scrub and pumice stone on neglected feet.

9)   Use 'one minute manicure' hand scrub then get out of the tub.

10)  Towel/air-dry while applying purifying mud mask to facial-ready face. Note to self: Do not drink hot chocolate from an oversized mug in public. Chocolate all over the corners of my mouth.

11)  While mask dries, apply body lotion to avoid re-drying out of skin.

12)  Use special peppermint foot lotion on my smooth little piggys and wrap them up in cozy socks to lock in moisture.

13)  Wash off mask, apply facial toner.

14)  While toner dries, notice condition of eyebrows and do a quick wax job.

15)  Apply “refining lotion” to face followed by special daily moisturiser that does not get used daily.

TAH DAH!!!  Pretty AND smart in 15 easy steps. That my friends, is balance.

(now what am I supposed to make for dinner?)

How's your junk?

I read an article about reducing the amount of ‘stuff’ from your home. I am now inspired!  A little bit of inspiration can be a dangerous thing for me.  How much junk is there in my home that I have no need of, use for, or just think is too ugly to acknowledge? A LOT!  A few months ago I did the big closet clean out. The bags of clothes are still waiting to be taken to the big bin near the church. The rule was that if it didn’t fit or hasn’t been worn in a year, it’s gone. No keeping things for sentimental reasons. Just because I looked sooooo cool in the shiny skimpy top when I was 23 does not mean it belongs in my 32-year old closet.  What else can I clear out? The next experiment is this: March that junk right out the door! Get the play on words? It’s March. Yes, I’m lame. It’s ok. I like me anyways.

Things I can remove from my space are:

• Books I will not be reading again.
• Shoes that don’t get worn.
• Jackets that have not been worn over a year.
• Knick-knacks, what their purpose anyways?
• The mystery pile in the back hall closet.
• Papers that were oh so important during the college years. Seriously, why do I still have that stuff?
• The pile of stuff to be ‘sorted through later’ on my dresser.
• Mystery box that is in my closet. Nothing exciting in there. I think there are candles, cassette tapes, a batting glove… Just stuff I didn’t know how to separate from.

Where will it all go? Goodwill, library donations, recycle. There are places for things like that. It doesn’t have to go in the trash. I have a real problem with waste. That is the reason I have trouble throwing stuff out. I can do this. I can remove the junk. I can reclaim my space. My home can be a clutter-free zone!!!

I got this!  (still loving the new motto)

Thank you to www.wisebread.com for the inspiration.

The list that will fix everything! (kind of)

Well, after some serious time spent assessing what I really truly need to be satisfied, balanced and genuinely happy it has become obvious that I am an ‘overstuffer’.  Not in the sense that I collect too much stuff but, I feel a need to do everything. I want to experience everything and be good at everything.  Personally, I think that’s a great way to live. What’s that saying about sliding into the grave sideways all worn out screaming “WOOHOOOOOOO what a ride!!!” The problem is that I am having trouble fitting it all in, making it happen and feeling good about it all at the end of the day.  

Here is what I need from life (in no particular order):

• To know that my family can count on me for anything
• Meaningful, supporting relationships with like-minded people AKA- friends
• Good times and cutting lose every now and again
• To commune with nature on a regular basis
• A happy blend of control and spontaneity
• Structure - I crave it like a child
• To do work that means something to people and makes lives better
• A body that is healthy enough to keep up with me
• Financial security

Well, when it’s all out there in a structured list format, it seems pretty simple. I have most of those things. What I have been struggling with is fitting in the parts that are missing. Is making this little list happen really the answer to my quest for personal fulfillment, health and happiness? Hmmm. I just had an idea. I am going to post the list on the fridge. Maybe I’ll make a piece of artwork out of it and hang in on the wall. I don’t know. I’m getting excited now. This little list seems achievable. Structure will be the key. Without structure, it all just floats around like a pretty utopian fantasy. Is there anyone out there who can help me with structure?

The goal for today: Stop procrastinating, bundle the kids up (it’s -20C today) and go buy that big magnetic board and finish my invention. I have a great idea for something to plan each day Monday to Friday. It will include daily schedules, meal plans, fitness reward chart and chore distribution centre. 

Healthy Humour

Why do I love going to the chiropractor? Dr. Craig, along with his team, Kayleigh and Sarah are friendly, caring and very real people. Not an ounce of pretension.

Purely professional in every way and never without a dose of humour. Here is the tale of my most recent visit.

Nikolas, my almost four year old, runs straight to the adjustment table and hops up. He likes to go first. Leo, the one and a halfer, climbs up next. They love getting adjusted! My turn next. I point to a bone at the base of my spine. I can’t seem to remember what it’s called today. “What’s this part called again?” I ask. “Your sacrum” he replies. I smile knowing that that is the word I had forgotten. “Yes, that’s the one. Can you fix it please?” Obviously, he can. I ask him to be careful because I’m feeling a little nauseous today. No problem. That’s when Nikolas starts using the automatic pedals to jerk the table up and down. Dr. Craig to the rescue. He asks Nik to help him. Nik usually gives my feet and legs an adjustment. Next things you know, Nik is laying on my legs with his head nearly up my butt. Dr. Craig is able to his thing all the same. He lifts my weirdo son down. The table starts to move again. I groan. “Sorry, that’s me.” The good doctor informs. Then, my bum get’s a good hearty pat. “That was NOT me!” he finishes. Thank you Nikolas. Before we left, Nik got a sticker and Leo poured water all over the floor. He likes splashing in puddles. Nik was ‘allowed’ to mop it up. Thanks Kayleigh.

I am so lucky that I have a wellness team that works well with my lifestyle. I thank them for the smiles, good health, support, helpful advice and ideas. I am looking forward to joining Kayleigh and Sarah soon in their 90 day challenge. We are going to be feeling so good by the end of that.

If you are interested in learning more about the many benefits of chiropractic care, benefits for children or the creating wellness program, please visit Dr. Craig Hazel’s website right away! Tell them Sasha sent you.

ps: For those who are trying to catch me cheating during my week-without-facebook, I can post this to facebook without having to actually go to facebook. I have been on the wagon for a full 24 hours. WOO!

Juggle me this...

I am a junkie for trying new things. If it interests me, I want to try it. Here is the dilemma: With so many balls in the air, I am destined to drop a couple. What if I drop something important and it crashes to the floor and breaks into thousands of tiny pieces?  In the name of balance and reducing anxiety, here is experiment #5: choosing to put a couple of balls down.

Stage one is to identify what balls I am juggling:

Raising the boys

University degree

Watching Y&R (yes, totally embarrassing to share but this is for science)

Painting

Writing

Cleaning the house

Mild Facebook addiction

Making meals for the family

Spend time with husband

Spending time with friends

Exercise

Yoga

These are the things that take up a minimum of an hour each week.  Obviously, some take significantly more.  On top of this, there is a giant list of things that I want to try out. Being a Reiki Master? Maybe? Why not? Oh, I have no time. Right. Sigh.

Stage two is to do a little thinking about what I am willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

Stage three is an evaluation of success. I hope to have more time to do what is most important to me. I would also like to feel a little more relaxed.

Follow up on a past experiment: “Make a plan” Pthhhhhh. (That’s what happened to it.) It seems that I am not willing to create a new plan each day. I think that once I put down a couple of balls I will have to construct some sort of permanent calendar/planner/reward chart for us to use. Good thing I’ll have all that free time once I put a couple of other balls down.

Good news: Yesterday's 'I've got this' attitude WORKED!!!! I survived, everyone was fed, the kitchen floor was clean for a little while and I didn't crash until halfway through dinner. Yay me!

I've Got This!!!

I caught the last 10 minutes of Village on a Diet last night. It’s not a show I follow but I needed something to keep me awake while I had a little pre-bed snack. The show is inspirational. These people are making an effort to change their unhealthy lifestyles. They were doing some sort of fitness test that involved running, crunches and push-ups. It was a very hot day and the featured participants were not in stellar physical form to start with. What got them through? Towards the end of the show, one of the professional fitness trainers (tall dark hotness, oh my!) was giving a pep-talk, I listened. He was getting them fired up. In response to tough situations they would encounter he would have them yell “I’ve got this!” over and over again.

Convince yourself that you can do something, that you’ve got it, and I bet you can. I am feeling crummy with the flu and bronchitis but still have 2 active boys to entertain. I am 2 months behind my goal for finishing my current university course.  My home is a mess… Husband will be working late this week. Will I crumble? NO! I’ve got this! Will I set reasonable expectations for this week? You bet your ass I will. Can I keep the kids out of trouble, make sure they get fed and sweep the kitchen floor? Yes. I can maintain reasonable order. I’ve got this.

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. A little snack of yogurt before bed let me to catch the phrase that will carry me through this day, maybe the whole week. It is my hope that you will read this and find strength in yourself that will help you overcome your obstacles today.

Icky Sicky.... Naturally

It’s a long weekend for many of us and naturally, this is when I get sick. Fever, headache, cough, stuffy nose, achy body and a fever.  Even though I feel crappy, I am trying to stick with this positive attitude business. What better time could there be to try  some of the natural home remedies that have been passed down through the ages? First my disclaimer; I am not a doctor or medical professional, these are simply my opinions and should not replace sound medical advice. There, with that out of the way…. Here we go.

1)     Stuffy nose: I used the steam in my hot shower to loosen things up in my face and chest. A little gross if you are accustomed to a tissue but it worked. The relief lasted an hour or so. The heat also made my achy body feel better. The other thing I used to clear my sinuses is a product by NeilMed. It is this squeezy bottle that you fill with a special packet of saline and warm water. You squirt it up one nostril and let it run out the other. The first try gave me a flashback of learning the importance of blowing out while swimming. Now it’s not so bad. Relief also lasts about an hour. The nose-rinse is said to be good as a daily thing to clear the nasal passages of dust, allergens and germs. Also keeps things moist during dry winter weather.  The bonus here was that there were none of the dryness or stoner-like side affects of taking an over the counter decongestant.

2)     Sore throat: Gargle every couple of hours with salt water. I made it as salty as I could handle. It really took the sting out!  This works really well. My favourite relief is hot water with some honey and lemon juice in it. I don’t know the scientific facts around it but here is what I think… The lemon loosens up all the mucus, the heat sooths the throat and muscles after coughing and honey, I believe, has anti-bacterial properties to it. I also really like the taste. Gary makes it best so if he is home, he is my go-to Honey-Lemon mixer.

3)     Fever: No one likes a fever. It is hot and chills and sweaty and yucky. Why not just take a Tylenol and suppress that nastiness? Here is why; your body has a fever for a reason. The body is raising it’s temperature to kill off the infection. Let your body do it’s thing. Obviously if the fever has been too high for too long then you may want medical intervention but if you aren’t in a life threatening situation… suck it up butter-cup. Your body knows what it is doing. Drink lots of fluids and keep some spare dry t-shirts handy while you sweat it out. Eww but true.

OK, that’s it for today. I need another Honey-Lemon and a nap.

Bitter-Sweet... my love affair with vinegar

Because of my European heritage, a love affair with vinegar was inevitable. I pour it on kielbasa sausage, on pelemeni (yum!) and sometimes as per North American custom, on fries. Now, I use it to make salad dressings, poach eggs and relieve heart burn.  Please open your hearts and embrace one of earth’s finest liquids. Here are just a few unexpected uses:

1. A ½ pint of distilled white vinegar to your rinse cycle kills bacteria, eliminates soap residue, reduces static cling and reduces lint. It also helps with the stinky washer problem.
2. To keep four legged pests out of the garden, soak a few rags in vinegar and hang them on stakes around the garden. Most animals hate the scent of dried vinegar. Replace every 7-10 days.
3. Drinking one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with or just before a meal helps with digestion. It helps by breaking down food into smaller molecules which means your intestines and liver can better absorb the nutrients.
4. Manicures & Pedicures! Soak fingers and toes in distilled white vinegar for 5 minutes to soften cuticles. Clean your nails with it before applying polish to help the polish stick better.

Happy Friday! Enjoy the long weekend.

Hunka Hunka Burning Love!

You didn’t think I would do Love Week without discussing the love of my life did you? Gary is the BEST!

Here are some the things I love about my husband:

1. We are both terrible liars. Our relationship has no trust-issues.
2. We can laugh at ourselves, and at each other.
3. Problems are solved through honest communication. We make an effort to listen and understand each other’s point of view. It’s ok to walk away if a cooling-off period is needed. We trust that it will get resolved fairly and kindly.
4. He supports all of my craziness; staying home with the kids, starting a university degree program through correspondence, taking away the microwave, planning camping trips and having my thumb in just about every pie there it.
5. I love how his eves crinkle when he smiles. So hot. He has a little dimple to that shows when he’s really really amused.
6. Gary never tells me I’m a terrible singer. We both know I am, but he enjoys that I’m enjoying a song.
7. He would do just about anything I wanted if it would make me happy because he knows I would never abuse the power.
8. I will always get his honest opinion. No sugar coating. Love, but no sugar coating.
9. I love that he is so smart.
10. He smells good.
11. He does nothing half way. Gary is an all or nothing kind of guy. It keeps me on my toes.
12.  When we hug, it’s like two puzzle pieces fitting together every time.
13.  I think it’s cool that he can reach things that are way up high and he can open lids that are closed so tightly.
14.  I love how he appreciates the things I do to make his life better.
15.  He shares adventures with me. Gary is up for almost anything.
16.  I love that when he agreed to spend the rest of our lives together, he really meant the rest of our lives.

Alright, you get the point. I am so blessed to have a partner who supports me, believes in me and puts up with my nonsense. Gary enriches my life by helping me explore and experience everything I possibly can. He doesn’t always understand it but he supports it. That, my friends, is a good man.

What does he think about my newest project (this blog)? He read it a couple of times and had this to say: “It’s interesting to read and kind of all over the place. I have no idea what is coming each day. It is a very accurate expression of you.”

Thanks Babe! I love you!

I nurture nature and nature nurtures me

One of my big loves is nature. The sounds and smells are soothing. The sights are awe inspiring. Have you every laid on the ground under a giant tree and enjoyed how the sun flickers through the leaves? Study a plant or flower that you planted from a tiny non-descript seed and be amazed what it becomes with just some sun, water and TLC.  Never mind the fact that eating a fruit or veggie within minutes of being picked will always taste better than something that took a ride in a big stinky truck.

I am really looking forward to spring. We have a little veggie garden and a few of flower beds. Some ladies have an expensive shoe problem… I have an expensive dirt problem. You could call it my ‘dirty little secret.’ I buy a LOT of dirt. In my defence the dirt usually comes with a plant in it.  To save a little money this year and to really get the most out of one of my favourite hobbies, here are some of my plans for spring:

1. Start veggies and annual flowers from seeds. This is also a fun activity I hope will keep the boys busy for a morning.

2. Try my very hardest not to start a new garden on the right side of my house. I really don’t have the time to take care of another one.

3. To satisfy my urge to create a new garden space, I will help a friend who is sadly without a garden to build one. I have set aside a bunch of split perennials from the fall and kept them in pots buried in the garden for an easy transfer this spring.

Why do I love gardening so much? It reminds me that anything can grow into something wonderful with a little care. People, like plants, come in all shapes and sizes; they each have their purpose. The little sprout you picked on as a kid just may grow to be the big tree that either protects you from the wind or drops nuts on your head.

I challenge you to, get a pot, bucket, or old dish… whatever; put some dirt in there and grow something special from a seed. Let me know how it goes.

Girls Girls Girls!

In elementary school, I saw first-hand how mean girls can be. I had a very hard time trusting the nasty little creatures after that. In high school, I befriended the guys. They were easier to understand. If a guy is ticked-off at you he will look you in the face and say “I’m ticked off at you and this is why!” It is a beautiful thing! I have since learned that there is nothing in the world that can keep a woman healthy, relaxed and informed like a solid pack of girlfriends.

Top 10 reasons why my girlfriends are the best:

10. A really good girlfriend will laugh to you face about your weird habits and embarrassing moments. Never behind your back.
9. You can walk into a room of girlfriends and, without saying hello first, announce that you need to vent for 5 minutes before you can be social. They stop talking and let you roll with it. Pleasant conversation resumes immediately afterwards.

8. “Sasha, you need to fix that haircut”.   Need I say more?
7. If you have an awkward ‘lady issue’ you can talk to a girlfriend about it.

6. They will schedule a play date with you where the two of you have at least as much fun together than the kids.

5. A girlfriend will do you the solid of yelling at your kid for throwing toys when your face is full of zucchini bread.

4. Girlfriends expand your world by exposing you to new things. Baking, books, career options, pole dance classes…

3. Some girlfriends have a knack for fashion and share their skill with us who want to look good but really don’t know how.

2. Girlfriends know not to ask you if it’s ‘that time of the month’ if you seem a little cranky. They can tell automatically from the huge zit you sprouted overnight.

1. By confessing that we are all in some way totally insecure, I have gained an incredible amount of confidence.

I may know many people, but I prefer to keep a small group of true friends by my side to help me see the variety, beauty and humour that life has to offer. You ladies know who you are.  I am grateful to you for enriching my life. xox

I was born a fool for love!

One of my favourite things in the whole world is love. I love being in love, seeing others in love, friend-love, family-love, love of food, love of creativity, love of nature… Love is like crack to me. This week my experiment is to focus on my ‘favourites’ and to appreciate how they have enriched my life. I give you experiment #4… love week.

I invite you to do this experiment along with me. Please, leave comments and tell me what you do to feel the love. Give me a hit of that good stuff!

I enjoy this Hallmark holiday. It’s not only about being a couple or romance. It’s about showing those around you that you care. My son’s nursery school class has it right, today they will have a friendship party. How will you celebrate?

Heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast (the pink colour comes from strawberries added to the batter). I also bought some gummy hearts to snack on. Who knows what other nice things I will do for my family, friends and myself today? I think I’ll let it be a surprise.

My teenage sister is spending a week with us while our parents are on vacation. She was surprised this morning by a big red box of candy that I stuffed in the sleeve of her coat. The kids and I painted a masterpiece for my husband over the last week. I let them add one new colour each day.  I also have a little stash of dollar store surprises to pull out throughout the day. I’m not one to spoil the kids but I love doing it on special occasions. Tonight I am having some family over for a Valentine’s dinner. There are little shiny cupids are dangling over the table and I have little valentine treats picked out for everyone too. We should all feel special today.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, my face smells like a sandwich

 Improving one’s life can be serious business. I am already way too serious. I officially declare that Fridays will be reserved for light-side experiments. May I introduce you to experiment #3: a facial.

Months ago, I saw Kym Douglas promoting her book of beauty secrets on the Ellen show. The woman is hysterical! She and Cindy Pearlman wrote a book called The Beauty Cookbook.  Today I will try the potato salad facial without the carbs. The one ingredient in this miracle beauty treatment is Miracle Whip. Apparently the vinegar causes exfoliation and rejuvenation of skin cells and the oil helps sooth and nourish skin. Kym writes that after six to eight weeks of doing this everyday, my skin should be completely renewed. Let’s give it a shot.

The result: After a couple of minutes it started to tingle. I washed it off and found that I looked sunburned. My face is as red as a tomato. My skin is a little smoother though and after applying my usual moisturiser, the vinegar smell is gone. Too bad, I love vinegar. I will try this again another day.  All of the blood rushing to my face left a pleasant warm sensation that was rather welcome on a chilly February morning in Ottawa. 

Achieving the elusive BOD

I was volunteering at the Kanata Wellness Expo a couple of weeks ago. There was a nice pair of firm-bodied twenty-something representatives from a local gym. They had a great little set-up in their booth where people could get their BMI (body mass index) tested. There was a plastic lump to represent a pound of muscle and one to represent fat. They tested my BMI and I was congratulated for being in the ‘lean’ category. Great, I’m lean. Super. That does not help me lift heavy things or feel energetic. I feel weak and tired a lot of the time. Does lean equal healthy? My answer is no. I currently take a 20 minute walk three times a week. Sporadically, there are some crunches, push-ups and a little resistance band work; Thursday night is yoga night at Goodlife Fitness. I LOVE my yoga night. This brings be to experiment #2. 'Achieving the elusive bod.' My body should be able to do whatever I want it to do.

My goals:

• An all over increase in muscle mass 
• Increased lung capacity
• Decreased butt size
• Particular attention to strengthening around hip and knee joints
• A six-pack is an obvious bonus (show me one person who wouldn’t mind having that)

The method… I haven’t been getting results by leaving Tony Horton’s disk in the box. I will remove the DVD from the box and do asTony instructs. I will do this at least 4 times a week. I think that is a reasonable start. Cardio work is the only way to increase my lung capacity. Maybe soon I will figure out a way to fit that in to the schedule. At this point, vanity holds me back from posting a before photo. Maybe later... 

The results of experiment #1 ‘The Plan’

 I have to say that having a list made the day a lot smoother.

It was ridiculously cold out, instead of going outside I made play dough. School work didn’t happen, a visit with mom took priority. My plan for the boys to colour went out the window. They used the pencil crayons as missiles and shot them over the edge of the table. Snacks were a hit. Playing with a bucket of water in the kitchen kept them happy for nearly an hour. A HUGE triumph was dinner being ready at 5:59pm. I made a lemon caper pork tenderloin, broccoli and long grain rice. I usually ruin rice but by some magic it was good this time. The biggest thing to take away from the experiment is to be flexible and roll with the punches. I will make another list for tomorrow.

Let’s get crazy and plan the day!

Nothing makes me feel as easy-breezy as a well planned day. Seriously. Laugh at me if you want to, I have two sisters and am used to being ridiculed. With a plan of action, the stress of the unknown is gone. 

Here is how I did a plan. We have a tiny whiteboard in the kitchen so; I grabbed the handy dandy marker and made it happen. Since I am in the experimenting phase of planning a day, I tried to keep it simple.

Stage one - Try something.

Stage two - Evaluate the effectiveness.

Stage three – Make changes where needed.

Stage four - Season to taste and get the sucker down into a hard copy that I can use every day.

At least for today I know what food I am making and have ideas of how to keep the kids busy. My workout is Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer (he sais that he can transform my life in 10 minutes) the kids can play with balloons while I do that. Time is scheduled to do my course work. The boys should be happy with time outside, their favourite snacks, making art and playing with a bucket of water in the kitchen.

I am most confident about the snacks, reading stories and getting Nik to school on time. I am feeling less confident about Leo napping, being able to focus on school work and dinner being ready on time.

Shall we begin?

I am feeling excited about my new adventure. I ALWAYS get excited at the prospect of a new adventure. You should probably know that my definition of adventure is this: any activity where a minimal or major degree of planning is required and the outcome is unknown. Yes, that includes anything from camping, grocery shopping, creating a new muffin recipe on the fly to my first trip to Vegas. (Flights were booked last night. WOO!)
In the interest of keeping my experiments legitimate, I feel that a moderate level of planning is required. So, experiment #1 is this: create a plan. I think I will start with something as simple as a making a plan for the week. I use the term ‘simple’ optimistically. It needs to include enough activity for the boys to keep them entertained. It would be lovely if this included a little bit of learning and some outside time. I can’t seem to get them out every day. Who am I kidding? Other than walking Nik to preschool three times a week, we don’t go outside. Planning what will be for snack before they are in the kitchen begging for food would be a bonus.
Speaking of food… I need to fit in time to get meals made. I am guilty of a severe lack of planning when it comes to dinner. Five PM hits and I am trying to figure out what I can make from half a tomato, a box of minute rice and a potato. Can I thaw and cook some kind of meat before the natives rebel and storm the cereal cupboard? OK, so, meal plan is on the list too.
There is also that little project I started last winter that I like to call “Getting my University Degree.” My kids turn into cling-ons if I sit down with a book and get even worse if there is a pen and paper involved. Use of a laptop results in total chaos. I am brain-dead by the time I put them to bed. The three-month-per-course plan I intended is NOT working out. School work…. It makes the list.
To recap, I want to fit in an activity filled week for the boys, feed the family as close to Canada Food Guide standards as possible without stress and have dedicated time to do school work. Is it too much to hope that I will fit in time to work out, paint, read, watch TV, interact with my husband and clean the house as well???
Wish me luck with experiment #1. May the result be a reduction is stress, cranky kids and indigestion. I will let you know how that turns out.

Welcome, why am I here?

Why am I here? That is a great question. People have been asking that very thing throughout the ages. I do it every day. I walk into a room and then wonder why it is I am there. I'm sure there was a reason I just forgot why.
So lovely reader, I welcome you to my blog where I will be conducting several experiments to

1. Find my purpose here on earth.
2. Find the best way to organize myself and family to achieve maximum fun, goal achievement and relaxation. 
3. How to look great, feel great and do great.

Welcome to my experimental journey. I hope that we can all learn together and share a few laughs along the way.